Electric signaling system.



No.898,324. PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908.-

I E. R. COB.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11, 1908.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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"VELMER R. ooE, OF

I tion which is shown in Figs. 1 5

UNITED STATES SYLVANIA.

learns WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA,

FFICE.

A CORPORATION OF PENN- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER R. Con, of \Vilkinsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Electric Signaling System, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams showing one form of my invention, the two views showing the relay in its three different positions, and Figs. 3,4' and 5 are diagrams showing three different modifications of my invention, Fig. 6 is a view showing another form of three position relay which may be em loyed.

My invention has relation to e ectric signaling systems for railways,- and is applicable to those systems wherein the track rails are divided into insulated sections, and also to those systems in which the track rails are electrically continuous throughout for all currents both signaling and propulsion, being of more particular advantage in connection with the last named systems.

1y invention consists mainly in a certain and embodiments by those skilled in the 'art without departing from its spirit and scope as defined by the ap ended claims.

eferring first to that form of my inven and 2, the numeral 2 design. as the track rails which are here shown as being electrically continuous for all currents, both signalin and. pnopulsion, instead of b ing divided Into insulated sections. 3. designates transmission lines, supplied by an alternating current generator 4, and from which the signaling current is supplied to the track rails through the transformers 4 whose secondaries are connected across the rails in the middle of each block or track circuit. 5 designate relays whose movable member through a suitable arrangement of contacts controls the local circuits 6 I of the track signals 7. These relays have then energizing coils or windings 8 in series with the secondary coils or windings of the I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 11, 1908.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908. Serial No. 432,041.

. ay, it short circuits the secondary of the transformer and causes an mcreased current to flow through the windings 8, thereby increasing the energization of the relay and causing it to move to open the signal circuit, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 1. The signal controlled by said circuit then goes to danger position in accordance with the well known practice. With a broken Wire in the circuit, the relay will go to its third, also 0 en circuit position, as shown in Fig. 2, by tiie action of a counterweight 9. The distance at which the relays will be opapproaching train depends upon the adjustment of the relays, the impedance of the rails, the power factor of'the system, the adjustment of resistance 12, and other factors which must be determined in each case by the signal engineer. This distance will, however, vary somewhat under different track conditions, and the signal should therefore be set somewhat in advance of the theoretical block limits to guard against the possibility of their going to danger in the face of an approaching train. This variation may, however, be largely reduced in a number of ways. Thus, in Fig. 1, I have shown resistances 12 connected across the track rails at the points of connections of the ,transformers. These resistance conductors are so proportioned as to cause a uniform flow of current through coil 8 between the opposite rails to thereby reduce the variations in the total amount of current flowing at different times, due to changes in the ballast resistance under different conditions. This eliminates largely one cause of variation in the rails. In Fig. 4 I have shown the combinaconductor or bond 12 connecting the two rails midway between the bonds 11. This resistance conductor acts in the same manner as in Fig. 1 to reduce the variation, in the total-current flowing at different times in the sections.

, For the purpose of reducing the friction of the wipe contacts of the relays, mercury contacts or any other means of any suitable character may be employed. I

In Fig. 5 I have shown another form of my invention in which the signal circuit 6 has two relays 14 and 15 with their contacts in series in said circuit, and with their energizing windings 16 .and 17 in series with the sec ohdary ofthe transformer 4. The relay 15 is adjusted to pick up on a lower voltage than the relay 14, so that when a train enters the block the relay 14 will pick up, causing it to open the signal circuit and set the signal The relay 15 will open only in at danger.

The principal obcase? of a broken circuit.

ject in using the two relays is to avoid theuse of a wipe contact relay. Fig. 6 shows another typ magnet having a pivoted armature 19, which is arranged, when the magnet is ener ized, to engage the pivoted contact mem er. 20. When the magnet is denergized, as by a broken circuit, the armature 19 will be in the position shownin this figure. When the circuit of the ma net is intact and notrain is in the block, t e armature is lifted into engagement with the contact member 20, thus completing the local circuit. When a train comes 1nto the block, the increased current within the. blocks.

Various other changes may be made in my invention, since What I claim is 1. In an electric signaling system, a transformer for impressing a signaling current upon the track rails, and a signal-controlling relay having its energizing winding connected in series with the track and between the secondary winding of the transformer and the track; substantially as described.

2. In an electric signaling system, track, rails which are electrically continuous, a

tion of these same bonds. 11 with a resistancee of relay which may be employed. In this figure, 18 is a' "transformer for impressing a signalin crrent upon the track rails, and a signal 0&1- trolling relay having its energizing winding connected in-series with the track and between the secondary winding of .the transformer and the track; substantially as described.

3. In an electric signaling system, track rails which are electrically continuous, a transformer for impressing a signaling current upon the track rails, and a signal-controlling relay having its energizing winding tween the secondary winding of the transformer and the track, together with means for reducing the variations in the distance at ,which the relay will operate; substantially as described.

4. In an electric signaling system, track rails which are electrically continuous, a transformer for impressing a signaling current upon the track rails, and a signal-controlling relay having its energizing winding hon-nected series with thefitrack and between the secondary windingiiaofm the trans;- former and the trackftogethi cross- .bonds connecting the track rails'at intervals substantially as described.

5. In ,an electric signaling system, track rails which are electrically continuous, a transformerfor im ressing a signalim curtrolling relay having its energizing winding tween the secondary winding of the transformer and the track, together with resist ance bonds connecting the track rails; substantially as described.

6. In an electric signaling system, track rails which are electrically continuous, a transformer for impressing a signalin current upon the trac rails, and a signa -controlling relay having its energizing winding in series with the trackand between the secondary winding of the transformer and the track, together with cross bonds connecting the rails at the ends of the block; substantially as described.

7. In an electric signaling system, track rails which are electrically continuous, a transformer for im ressing a signalin current upon the trac r rails, and a signaI-controlling relay having its energizing winding connected in series with the track and between the secondary windin of the trans former and the track, toget er with cross bonds connecting the rails at the ends of the block, and resistance conductors also connecting the rails intermediate said bonds; substantially as described.

' 8. In an electric signalingsystem, a transformer havin its secondary connected across the -trac rails for supplying signaling current thereto; sf/signal circuit and two re. lays having contacts in series in said circuit rent'upon the trac rails, and a signa -conconnected in series with the track and be-' connected in series with the track and beand having their energizing windings in serles with each other and with the second- I ary of the transformer; substantially as deries with each other and with the track and between the secondary of. the transformer and the track,'said relays being adjusted to pick up at different voltages; substantially as, deseribed.

10. vIn an electric signaling system, a transformer for supplying signaling current to the track rails, and a signal controlling relay having a winding connected in series with the track and between the secondary Winding of the transformer andthe track, the movable member of said relay having two different positions in which it opens a signal circuit and a third position in which it closes said circuit; substantially as describec 11. In an electric signaling system, a source of supgly for signaling current, and a signal control ing relay having a winding connected in series with the track and between the source and the track, the movable member of said relay having two difi'erent positions in which it opens a. signal circuit;

and a third position inwhich it closes said circuit, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

- ELMER R. COE.

Witnesses:

J. B. STRUBLE, E. E. BRADLEY. 

